First Presidency Statement on Same-Gender Marriage

The First
Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has
issued the following statement:

"We of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints reach out with understanding and
respect for individuals who are attracted to those of the same
gender. We realize there may be great loneliness in their lives but
there must also be recognition of what is right before the
Lord.

"As a doctrinal principle,
based on sacred scripture, we affirm that marriage between a man
and a woman is essential to the Creator's plan for the eternal
destiny of His children. The powers of procreation are to be
exercised only between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband
and wife.

"Any other sexual
relations, including those between persons of the same gender,
undermine the divinely created institution of the family. The
Church accordingly favors measures that define marriage as the
union of a man and a woman and that do not confer legal status on
any other sexual relationship."

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